NSDC & deAsra Foundation to launch Entrepreneurship Support Programme

NSDC partners with deAsra Foundation to build capacity and strengthen the entrepreneurship support system for training providers.

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, has collaborated with deAsra Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, to facilitate training providers with sustained entrepreneurship development of the trainees. The collaboration is aimed to support the establishment of ‘Entrepreneurship Support Programme’, which is intended to equip placement cells of training providers with self-employment/ entrepreneurial assistance for the skilled candidates.

The association will facilitate training of counsellors/ trainers (called ‘Udyog Mitras’) of the envisioned Entrepreneurial Cell, who will handhold skill trainees to nurture their entrepreneurial action plan. This will include various aspects of developing a business model, seeking financial guidance, availing services of banks/ agencies for loans and other statutory requirements. The counselling provided by these Udyog Mitras is proposed to help aspirants explore new avenues and facilitate financial support to enhance employability.

NSDC’s affiliated training centres will also get access to the deAsra platforms, tools and knowledge resources, such as the deAzzle mobile app, business guides across industries, trackers, templates, checklists, and proposed interactive kiosks.

Commenting on the partnership, Manish Kumar, MD & CEO, NSDC said, “NSDC’s collaboration with deAsra will help build the capacity of our affiliated training partners to provide entrepreneurial support to their trainees. Business mentoring from experienced counsellors will enable aspiring youth to start their own businesses. The initiative will not only support small and micro entrepreneurship that can generate large-scale employment opportunities, it will also help drive sustainable growth in employment.”

Dr Anand Deshpande, founder, chairman and MD, deAsra Foundation said, “Every year, more than 12 million youth enter the working age group, but the challenge remains to generate enough employment opportunities for this growing talent. deAsra endeavours to transform job seekers into job creators through its entrepreneurial support system and other array of services.”

deAsra’s Entrepreneurship Support Programme will help Skill India trained candidates to acquire the right guidance, facilitate business plans and provide allied services to establish a new business. deAsra’s alliance with banks will enable mediation with financial institutions for successful facilitation of funds. The trainees will also be mentored by Udyog Mitras, who will guide the entrepreneurs through every stage of their business lifecycle, right from set-up to growth.